Medical truss



Oct. 11, 1927. 1,644,835

' I R. H). HOWARD MEDICAL TRUSS Filed April 25, 1927 6 4 v I gmemtoa I z/w/ m J 4. jlogvjgww Patented Oct. 11, 1927. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

RA'ULAND H. HOWARD, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

MEDICAL TRUSS.

Application filed April 25, 1927. Serial No. 186,476.

used by persons varying in proportions, and.

adjustable features to permit pressure to be applied at greater or lesser distances from each other upon the abdominal walls, depending upon the distance from each other of the ruptures and location of a single rupture.

The invention also includes the use of a reversible resilient, absorbent pad and a flexible bag or container for a medicinal element or preparation operating to prevent chafing and undue perspiration. 1 With the foregoing objects in view, and others to be mentioned the invention presents a novel and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details without departing from the spirit of the invention, said changes being determined by the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front view of the truss. Fig. 2 is a View in longitudinal section of the pad, its supporting-plate, the medicinal container and elastic band or belt. Fig. 3 is a view showing the inner side of the supporting-plate. Fig. 4 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description I provide a supporting-plate 6, preferably of elongated. rectangular form constructed of wood or aluminum or any other material which will be of limited weight and in which threaded apertures may be formed, said plate being provided with screws or keepers 7 in its outer side. upon the heads of which the ends of a belt or waist band 8 may be hooked, one end-portion of said band being provided with eyelets 9 at longitudinal intervals, this feature being to permit the elastic fabric band to be worn by persons of greater or lesser waist measurements.

Numerals 10 indicate a pair of elastic,

fabric straps which are stitched to the rear part of the belt or waist band 8, their front end-portions being provided at intervals with eyelets 11 which may be hooked upon the heads of screws or keepers 12 which are threaded in the front of the plate 6. It will be understood that the straps 10 may be dis? posed between the thighs'of the user and that adjustments may be made to cause the belt and straps to snugly fit the body.

As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing each end of the plate 6 is provided with a pair of screws 13.

Numeral 14 indicates an absorbent element or pad provided at its ends with loops 15 for engaging the heads of the screws 13 to secure the pad to the plate 6 at the rear side I thereof.

Numeral 16 indicates a container for a medical element, and preferably consists of a flat fabric bag adapted to be pressed between the pad and plate 6. It may contain any medicinal preparation, either in liquid or powder form adapted to prevent undue perspiration and prevent irritation or chafing of the'body, and since the container 16 is constructed of cloth or similar fabric, its contents or a part thereof may enter the absorbent pad.

The pad is constructed of light-weight,

resilient material with numerous passage- 1 ways extending therethrough, and since its texture is spongy it will readily absorb the contents of the bag. Artificial rubber may be used to advantage in the manufacture of the pad since it may be spongy in consistency and is resilient. 7

The pad, preferably, is of uniform thickness and may be inverted or reversed whenever desired. the side of the pad which engaged the bag or container 16 after reversal. being disposed in contact with the body of the wearer. The pad may thus be reversed each day so that the part which has absorbed the contents of the bag will be disposed next to the body.

Numerals 17 indicate a pair of hemispheroidal' projections each being provided centrally with a threaded stem 18. The plate 6 is provided with threaded apertures 19 at longitudinal intervals thereof, and therefore the projections may be secured to the rear side of the plate 6 at suitable dlstances from generally be developed, the ruptures generally being disposed at equal distances from the medial line of the body.

It will be understood that, in instances of double hernia the projections 17 are adjusted on the plate 6 in such a manner that the projections may be disposed adjacent to the two ruptures, and When the waist band 8 has been adjusted, the rigid plate 6 will be pressed toward the'body and will adequately support the pad. The bag 16 will be compressed between the pad and said plate. Since the pad will yield upon compression it permits the projections to approach closely to the ruptures, and therefore the ruptured parts of the abdomen will be supported.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the projections will remain closely adjacent to the ruptured parts of the abdomen, and this feature tends to prevent any sliding movement or displacement of the pad.

In operation, the projections 17 being adjusted longitudinally of the elongated plate 6, as mentioned, the waist bandand straps 10 are adjusted for securing the truss to the body of the wearer, the eyelets 9 and 11 receiving the heads of the respective keepers 7 and 12. The porous pad Will be pressed to a flat condition against the body, and the parts mentioned may be comfortably Worn. Theprojections 17 will engage adjacent to the ruptured parts of the abdominal walls and will not be removed therefrom. by any ordinary exercise or movements of the body, such as bending or lifting heavy objects.

The medicinal contents of the fabric bag or container 16 will be pressed bet-ween the plate 6 and the pad and its contents will move through the fabric walls thereof to a greater or lesser extent and will enter the sinuous passageways of the pad, the result being that a part of the contents of the bag will move through the pad and prevent excessive perspiration of the skin at or adj acent to the ruptured abdominal Walls. The edges of the container 16 are constructed of non-porous material to prevent a movement therethrough of liquids.

It will be seen that the several parts of the truss are detachable and may be conveniently separated, this being a great advantage. It is-important that a truss be kept in a sanitary condition, and after separation the parts may be washed whenever necessary. Also if the pad or other parts become unduly worn they may be replaced at a limited cost, this being a feature of advantage.

I claim as my invention,- v

1. A truss comprising a rigid, elongated plate, fastening means for securing the plate to the body of the wearer, a flexible, elastic pad connected with the plate, and a flexible container between the pad and said plate, and a pair of projections between the plate and flexible container, said projections being mounted upon and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of said plate;

2. A truss consisting of an elongated plate provided with apertures at longitudinal in tervals, a pair of convexed projections each having a stem for engaging in selected apertures of said plate, a pad constructed of elastic, spongy material adapted to be disposed at a side and removably connected with said plate, a container for a medicinal element between the. plate and said-pad in engagement with the convexed projections, and fastening devicesremovably connected with said plate at the side thereof opposite to said pad, said container being constructed of material permitting its contents to exude therefrom for entering said pad. 7

In testimony whereof, I have afliXed my signature.

RAULAND H, HOWARD. 

